Defense Minister Israel Katz acknowledged the intensification of combat operations in Palestinian territory and warned that the objective is to “seize areas that will be annexed.”

Several Palestinian media outlets reported last night about artillery and aircraft “rings of fire” over large areas of the enclave as a prelude to the IDF’s deployment.

According to sources, the cities of Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir Balah, and the Nuseirat refugee camp were targeted by extensive Israeli attacks, which caused numerous deaths.

The Qatari television station Al-Jazeera reported that at least 16 Palestinians were killed during the bombings, including minors.

Since last week, Israeli soldiers have again entered neighborhoods in the city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, as part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy to pressure the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to accept his demands: the release of all prisoners, the surrender of power and disarmament of Hamas, as well as the exile of its leaders. However, the movement refuses to accept the last two demands and is willing to release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war.

This week, the bodies of 15 Palestinian rescuers and paramedics who were attacked last week by Israeli soldiers in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of that city were recovered.

Official data reveals that more than 51,000 people have died and 114,000 have been injured in Gaza since the Israeli aggression began in October 2023.

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